Sales tax receipts down for November

Shawnee city sales tax receipts are down in November compared to the same month a year ago, the fifth month of the current fiscal year. Sales tax collections are running nearly $125,000 behind compared to budgeted figures for the first five months of the 2012-2013 fiscal year which began July 1.

Comment

By Mike McCormick

The Shawnee News-Star

By Mike McCormick

Posted Nov. 15, 2012 at 11:17 AM

By Mike McCormick
Posted Nov. 15, 2012 at 11:17 AM

SHAWNEE

Shawnee city sales tax receipts are down in November compared to the same month a year ago, the fifth month of the current fiscal year. Sales tax collections are running nearly $125,000 behind compared to budgeted figures for the first five months of the 2012-2013 fiscal year which began July 1.

In three of the five months of this fiscal year, receipts have been above that of their respective months in 2011. However, the total is running about 1.81 percent below what was projected for the budget.

Pottawatomie County’s one cent sales tax receipts are up in November compared to the same month in 2011.

Cindy Sementelli, Shawnee city finance director and treasurer, reports that November sales tax collections totaled $1,253,140. She said that is $36,003 or about 2.79 percent lower than November of 2011.

She pointed out that cumulatively for the current fiscal year “we are down $124,789 or 1.81 percent.” She added that compared to November 2010 figures “we were up by $17,750.”

Shawnee Mayor Wes Mainord weighed in on the sales tax picture. “Having been through a major oil turn down in the late 70s and early 80s, and being told that things will get better in 1985, well they did not get better. Oil was still $8 a barrel so, I would say that if we do not see a turn in November and December then we better have a plan on how we are going to get our budget in line.

“I want to be optimistic, but after experiencing what I did in the 80s, then I am a big proponent of plan for the worst and celebrate the success,” the mayor added.

Mainord continued, “The city manager and I have discussed this and he understands that we may have to react if we do not see a turnaround. I do hope that this holiday season we will have more people spending more dollars in our city than last year and hopefully get us back on the plus side.”

City Manager Brian Mc-Dougal, also commented on the latest figures. He indicated there is no contingency plan in place at this time, pointing out “we are early in the budget year. Generally, this is a slower time of year, and I’m optimistic we’ll meet our budget.”

McDougal confirmed the sales tax projections for the current fiscal year were based on actual sales tax collections in the 2011-2012 fiscal time period plus 2.5 percent.

He added that other revenues the city is receiving are continuing to trend well.

He mentioned the November collections are based on retail business in September through early to mid October.

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“Holiday times are traditionally our strongest times of the year,” he said.

He indicated the city would have a better picture following the holidays, noting, “We will watch it closely.”

Current actual year totals for the five months of this fiscal year now stand at $6,750,981. That is up $42,912 up from the prior year actual of $6,708,069, Sementelli said.

The five-month total compares to $6,875,771 which was budgeted.

Pottawatomie County’s one cent sales tax totaled $586,250.56 in November. That is $1,216.45 more than the $585,034.11 collected in November of a year ago, according to figures released by County Treasurer Wendy Magnus.